The Department of Health has set up an online list of medical providers approved to deliver vaccinations for people eligible for Phase 1B shots of the COVID-19 pandemic roll-out.
The Department said its new national vaccination information and location service came online yesterday (22 March), and listed more than 1,000 general practices, Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services as well as GP-led respiratory clinics where people could receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
“[Services will] progressively increase in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April – as part of Phase 1B of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine program,” the Department said.
“Appointments will increase as the number of clinics grow from 1,000 to more than 4,000 over four weeks,” it said.
The Department said the service was available through its vaccine eligibility checker and people should continue to check back if an appointment wasn’t initially available.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the Department’s new service would enable people to locate their nearest general practice which provided vaccinations and access the practice’s online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.
“People will still be able to book their vaccine appointments directly at a participating general practice – as they do now, for instance, to get a seasonal flu vaccine,” Mr Hunt said.
“Phase 1B includes vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with certain underlying medical conditions,” he said.
Mr Hunt said that as the rollout moved into Phase Two, additional general practices and selected community pharmacists would also participate in the program.
The Department’s vaccine eligibility tracker can be accessed at this PS News link and its week one, 67-page list of vaccination providers at this link.
